It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.
The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Maryland where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.
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#24. Garrett County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.0%
- Total occupied households: 12,425
- Median household income: $52,617
- Median monthly housing cost: $733
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#23. Allegany County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 27,399
- Median household income: $45,893
- Median monthly housing cost: $707
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#22. Howard County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.6%
- Total occupied households: 114,170
- Median household income: $121,160
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,949
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#21. Carroll County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.8%
- Total occupied households: 60,758
- Median household income: $96,769
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,563
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#20. Harford County
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#19. Talbot County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.1%
- Total occupied households: 16,826
- Median household income: $73,547
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,204
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#18. Calvert County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.8%
- Total occupied households: 31,973
- Median household income: $109,313
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,798
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#17. Cecil County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.6%
- Total occupied households: 37,058
- Median household income: $76,887
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,276
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#16. Washington County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.8%
- Total occupied households: 56,035
- Median household income: $60,860
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,021
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#15. Frederick County
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#14. Worcester County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 33.9%
- Total occupied households: 22,089
- Median household income: $63,499
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,093
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#13. St. Mary's County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.8%
- Total occupied households: 40,552
- Median household income: $89,845
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,553
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#12. Queen Anne's County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.9%
- Total occupied households: 18,577
- Median household income: $97,034
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,689
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#11. Montgomery County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.1%
- Total occupied households: 370,950
- Median household income: $108,820
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,905
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#10. Anne Arundel County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.1%
- Total occupied households: 209,814
- Median household income: $100,798
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,765
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#9. Baltimore County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.4%
- Total occupied households: 313,519
- Median household income: $76,866
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,367
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#8. Dorchester County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 34.0%
- Total occupied households: 13,183
- Median household income: $52,917
- Median monthly housing cost: $942
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#7. Charles County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.7%
- Total occupied households: 56,520
- Median household income: $100,003
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,849
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#6. Wicomico County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 42.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.8%
- Total occupied households: 37,793
- Median household income: $56,956
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,067
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#5. Caroline County
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#4. Kent County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 36.1%
- Total occupied households: 8,025
- Median household income: $58,598
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,117
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#3. Prince George's County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 36.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 36.6%
- Total occupied households: 311,343
- Median household income: $84,920
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,669
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#2. Somerset County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 25.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 40.7%
- Total occupied households: 8,574
- Median household income: $37,803
- Median monthly housing cost: $792
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#1. Baltimore city
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 26.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 36.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 38.1%
- Total occupied households: 239,116
- Median household income: $50,379
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,113